Meditation and Mindfulness
We will be focusing on community based needs for vulnerable populations - seniors, new immigrants, disabled (mental and physical), anxious students, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, mental illness, families undergoing conflicts and separation, and other groups who are found to be in need of services. These projects are responsive to evidenced needs (from demographic studies) and supported by grants. Our current focus is on Meditation and Mindfulness for Stress Relief program.
Meditation and Mindfulness for Stress Relief (MMSR)
DhIA Foundation offers customized meditation and mindfulness programs for stress relief drawing from multiple secular meditation and mindfulness practices from South and East Asia. Additionally, participants are supported with learning resources and practice-at-home meditation apps.
(See video for Power of Breath and Neuroscience of Meditation)
KEY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER WHILE BUILDING THE PROPOSAL
Here are some of the key questions we ask when evaluating a proposal:
Is the proposed project within our mission of promoting meditation and dharmic values of:
Leading with compassion and respect
Serving with integrity and excellence
Reaching out to include and connect
Is meditation and dharma central to the proposed project?
Does the key manager or leader of the proposed project have appropriate training and/or an extensive personal meditation practice?
Is meditation central to the proposed project?
What type of impact will the project have on the participating audience or community?
What type of audience will the proposed project include? In particular, will it help to reach new or underserved communities, especially those in the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, or students facing trauma or loss due to violence.
What is the likelihood of the proposed project becoming self-sustaining?
Will a small grant make a significant difference to the proposed project (and how)?
What is the administrative capacity of the sponsoring organization?
Does the project have the support of the organization’s leadership?
For proposals submitted by individual teachers, does the application have the support of the school or county administration or board?
Is the organization sufficiently organized, staffed and funded to achieve its goals?
GRANT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Cover letter that includes:
Brief purpose of the request (five lines maximum)
Amount requested
Name and phone number of the contact person for this grant
Signature of the applicant or authorized representative, plus their title
2. Letter of Support from the school leadership or board if the application is being submitted by an individual teacher.
3. Briefly describe the mission and programs of your organization (1 page or less)
4. Summarize the proposed project: (2 pages or less)
Please tell us how you plan to use the funds and what you hope to accomplish, including:
A description of the project
The audience you hope to reach and how you will conduct outreach
How many students are anticipated to participate
What type of meditation is involved and the delivery method (e.g. live class, via app, at start and end of each class, etc)
Who are the key educators and staff involved (their names, training, any other qualifications)
What specific outcomes you hope to achieve
How you will evaluate the project's impact
Please note that approved applicants will need to submit a brief final summary of outcomes.
Project duration (project must be at least 30 days in length)
Be sure you include:
What gap in your current work this project might fill
How any purchased materials or products (books, audio, video, etc) will be used
If you intend to charge participants, how you will determine the price or fees or why fees are inappropriate. Please explain how you plan to use any revenues generated, if you charge participants.
5. Give financial and legal information:
For non-profits/NGOs
An IRS letter classifying the organization as a tax-exempt nonprofit, if applicable
The names and affiliations of the organization’s Directors
A detailed proposed project budget for this grant with estimated expenses and any anticipated revenues
6. Limit the description of your organization and proposed project (#3 and #4) to three double-spaced pages or less. You may include brochures, annual reports or other background material as attachments.
7. Send an electronic PDF copy of your proposal via:
EMAIL media@dhiafoundation.org
Subject Line: DhIA Meditation Grant Application 2022
8. Send a PDF copy of your proposal and supplementary materials via email by AUGUST 15, 2023, 11:59PM EST
General Guidance
We focus on funding organizations that are aligned with our mission.
This grant will only fund public entities and tax-exempt organizations in good standing.
We are committed to funding programs that support the advancement of underserved populations, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and women.
We do not fund capital improvements, endowments, or scientific research.
MMSR for Law Enforcement Officers: Customized meditative techniques to help law enforcement officers combat traumatic stressors that are exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has created social upheaval and altered norms for all members of society, but its effects on first responders and law enforcement officers have been particularly profound. In addition to professional mental health services and strong peer and community support, meditation and mindfulness have been shown to reduce stress levels and improve physical and mental health outcomes for law enforcement officers with longer term sustained results.
MMSR for Healthcare Workers: Customized meditation and mindfulness practices to address professional burnout, stress-related disorders, compassion fatigue, conflicts at home, voluntary separation from vulnerable family members, insomnia among other symptoms that plague healthcare workers who while trained to provide help, may not prioritize asking much less receiving help for their own wellness. Healthcare workers desperately need all-around support to care for their mental health as they continue to work in stressful situations - meditation and mindfulness practices have been evidenced to offer tremendous stress relief.
Mindfulness in Action for Students & Professionals: Cognitive and behavioral sciences suggest that our thoughts, emotions, and actions are inter-connected forces that dictate how we engage with the world around us. Creating a multi-prong approach to change our thinking patterns, behavioral and emotional responses to external stressors would be invaluable in healing current divisiveness, defensiveness and violent aggressions in the community. DhIA's Mindfulness in Action program includes educational components, behavior modification guidance, and meditation and mindfulness trainings led by professionals and subject matter experts.
Design your own MMSR program: Your customized program can include the following:
Breath Awareness
Guided Relaxations
Heartfulness meditation
Insight meditation (vipassana)
Metta and Loving Kindness Meditations
Music meditation
Many more ...